Agricultural News
Hilliary Communications to Launch $45 Million in Fiber-Optic Infrastructure Expansion in Rural America
Tue, 26 Oct 2021 11:48:58 CDT
Hilliary Communications announced today that it will be investing more than $45 million in rural America to expand affordable, high-powered fiber optic internet where traditional bank loans and infrastructure programs are not readily available. The area of greatest impact will be in southern Oklahoma beginning in the Lawton region and stretching as far east as Talihina.
Hilliary Communications will invest $12.5 million in private funds to match the $32.7 million in federal funds awarded to Hilliary Communications' regional companies by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on August 11.
"The USDA continues to award our commitment to excellence in building out and deploying rural broadband services," said Dustin Hilliary, Managing Partner Hilliary Communications. "We are passionate about delivering the best service in these hard-to-reach areas because our company is comprised of a workforce committed to elevating opportunities and improving the quality of life for communities in rural America. We appreciate the State and the Congressional Delegation for making this a priority for advancing Oklahoma."
"Oklahoma's Second District is the only congressional district in the country where broadband is available to less than half the population," said Congressman Markwayne Mullin (CD-2). "Our rural communities are too often left without the services they need due to lack of connectivity. I am glad to see these federal grants awarded to Oklahoma, and I applaud companies like Hilliary Communications for the work they do to expand internet access in these communities and help close the digital divide."
"Our state has made great strides in moving Oklahoma's ranking in broadband access from 47 to 35 in just three years," said Gov. Kevin Stitt. "It takes all of us working together to continue to make this progress, and I applaud Hilliary Communications for always being on the front lines of competing and bringing to Oklahoma resources to advance our shared Top Ten mission."
The USDA grants awarded to Hilliary Communications are as follows:
Oklahoma Western Telephone Company, awarded $23,344,336
Cities Impacted: Antlers, Wister, Red Oak, Le Flore, Albion, Talihina, Clayton, Fanshawe and Tuskahoma
Homes Impacted: 947
Businesses Impacted: 17
Farms or Ranches Impacted: 301
Core Services Impacted: 1 educational facility and 2 community facilities
Texhoma Fiber LLC, awarded $2,648,931
Cities Impacted: Lawton
Homes Impacted: 353
Businesses Impacted: 60
Farms or Ranches Impacted: 1
Core Services Impacted: 3 educational facility, 2 community facilities and 2 health care facilities
Southern Plains Cable LLC, awarded $2,228,689
Cities Impacted: Alex, Apache, Cement, Grandfield and Sterling
Homes Impacted: 123
Businesses Impacted: 5
Farms or Ranches Impacted: 7
Core Services Impacted: 1 community facility
Tatum Telephone Company, awarded $44,488,894
Cities Impacted: Panola and Rusk counties in Texas
Homes Impacted: 986
Businesses Impacted: 67
Farms or Ranches Impacted: 60
Core Services Impacted: 3 educational facilities, 2 community facilities and 1 healthcare facility
Deployment on each of these infrastructure projects will begin in October 2021, with completion varying between one to two years. Impacted customers can learn more about the timeline in their regions by contacting their local Hilliary Communications service provider.
Hilliary Communications represented nearly a quarter of the federal grants awarded nationwide under USDA's ReConnect program on August 11. More information can be found on those grants by clicking here.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
